Best Acne Spot Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

Ranked by community score across 71 mentions on Reddit

Top picks· 5

Reddit’s top pick

The Ordinary42 mentions

The why

A 10% azelaic acid suspension with a silicone-heavy, matte cream texture. Redditors use it for acne, rosacea redness, and leftover marks, but the pilling, stinging, and drying make it a YMMV pick. The studies back acne improvement.

One minus

Pills under makeup and sunscreen

Good forOily Skin

10% Azelaic Acid Booster
10% azelaic acid plus salicylic acid for redness and breakouts; can sting.
Paula's Choice15 mentions
10% Azelaic Acid Treatment
Studies found azelaic acid beats placebo; Reddit reports calmer redness and fading marks.
Good Molecules7 mentions
Action Medicated Lotion Contains 20% w/w Azelaic Acid
Studies found azelaic acid clears acne; Redditors report fading redness and spots.
Azclear4 mentions
Where to buy
Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10%
Studies support azelaic acid for acne; Redditors report clearer breakouts and discoloration.
Naturium3 mentions

Community take

For hyperpigmentation, Redditors most often recommend azelaic acid spot treatments, especially The Ordinary’s 10% suspension. People report fading red marks, sun spots, and uneven tone, though some aren’t sure it’s helping.

What works

Users report fading red marks and improving overall skin tone.
Some say it helps lighten sun spots and melasma.
Azelaic acid is also praised for calming acne-related redness.

Watch out for

Some users remain unsure whether the treatment is making a difference.
Scarring can take time to fade.

What the research says about hyperpigmentation ingredients

Strong evidence

2 ingredients

Multiple studies found these worked for hyperpigmentation.

Azelaic Acid
Most studies found azelaic acid helped fade dark patches better than a placebo
16 studies
Tranexamic Acid
Most studies found it helped fade dark patches, especially in melasma
21 studies

Some evidence

6 ingredients

Some studies found a benefit for hyperpigmentation, but the evidence isn't settled.

Arbutin
Most studies found arbutin helped fade dark spots or patches
9 studies
Glycolic Acid
Most studies found glycolic acid helped fade dark spots or patches
25 studies
Kojic Acid
Both studies that tested it on its own found it helped fade dark patches
10 studies
Niacinamide
All 5 studies that tested it on its own found it helped fade dark spots
20 studies
Retinol
Most studies found retinol helped fade dark spots or patches
12 studies
Vitamin C
Most studies found it helped fade dark patches or make skin tone look more even
20 studies

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not any one product.

How we grade research